Snippet Saturday ~ Secondary Characters

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday. Today's theme is secondary characters. Check out my excerpt and then hop along to the other blogs listed below :D

Revenge can be sweet…and oh so sexy.

Lena Richards's whirlwind vacation to Europe with a friend is a welcome chance to shake her pre-wedding jitters—until she learns her high-school sweetheart is cheating on her, Hawaiian-style. Figuring all's fair, she indulges in a fling of her own with a sexy New Yorker she meets in Amsterdam whose kiss blows her mind—and the lid off her hormones.

Tyler Bentz is wary that the petite bombshell, who only a short time ago insisted their one kiss must never happen again, has done a complete 180. His questions only make it clear she's interested in probing of the sexual kind. Who is he to turn her down?

As they burn their way across Europe, something shifts, and it's not just the earth moving with their exploding passion. Lena begins to realize what it really means to fall in love. And Tyler finds himself tumbling hard and fast.

Reality catches up with them in Paris, leaving Tyler to wonder if Lena's really the one, or if he's nothing more to her than a pawn in her game of revenge.

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EXCERPT

Lena removed her sunglasses and grabbed the paper menu off the table, relieved to see it also offered the English translation of the food. "I'm starving. Do you think they're serving lunch yet?"

"Hello, hot guy at the bar," Stephanie whispered, ignoring her question. "And he was showing strong signs of interest when we walked in."

"Now that's a surprise," Lena murmured. "You could draw looks from the blind."

Stephanie raised her eyebrows and smiled at the man, making Lena glad that she had her back to him.

"Okay, he's coming over."

"What?" Lena dropped the menu, her pulse quickening. "Are you nuts? He could be a complete wacko."

"Well, hello,my fellow Americans." The voice, a deep and sensuous baritone, lifted the minuscule hairs on the back of Lena's neck.

I will not turn and look.

"Oh, now that's too bad." Stephanie pouted. "I was hoping you'd be foreign and not another boring American. Accents are so delicious."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you." He didn't sound apologetic in the least. "Was that an invitation to sit down a second ago?"

"You're a quick one." Stephanie slid over in the booth and made room for him.

Lena saw his backside first as he walked past her. Okay, so he looked good from behind. His hair was brown and cut short, but it had some curl to it. A hunter green crew neck sweater covered thick, broad shoulders and muscular back. Hmm. A possible swimmer? Her gaze traveled down to the solid looking butt tucked into faded jeans.

The front of him would be a big mess. No man could look that good on both sides. He probably had yellow teeth, acne scars, and crossed eyes.

He turned around.

Sweet Jesus. This icon of a man could make the statue of David appear to be an overweight nobody. It shouldn't be legal for a man to look this good. Lena's defenses went on red alert, a common reaction when she was confronted with an impossibly good-looking man.

His brown eyes met hers across the table, and he gave her a broad smile, displaying perfect, white teeth. She gave an inaudible harrumph. What, did he promote toothpaste, too?

"So where are you from, Mr.…?" Stephanie asked as she trailed a manicured nail up his sleeve. She didn't seem near as bothered as Lena by their new friend.

"Bentz," the man replied. "But formality is wasted in a place like Amsterdam. Call me Tyler. I'm from New York."

"New York?" Stephanie replied. "I love New York. Great shopping. The name's Stephanie, and this is my best friend Lena."

Tyler shook Stephanie's outstretched hand and then turned to Lena, who'd tucked hers back into her lap.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Bentz." Lena gave an inward groan, wishing she didn't sound so damn stiff.

Tyler cocked an eyebrow and pulled his hand back, keeping his gaze locked on her.

Lena didn't answer and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, turning her gaze away from the amusement in his brown eyes. The hot body she could ignore, but the steady intensity in him struck a chord in her.

Stephanie grabbed another cigarette and lit up.

"So, where did you say you girls were from?"

"Portland, Oregon. Well, she is. I'm from Seattle." Stephanie blew a stream of smoke into the air and declared, "I think I want a beer. Do you think they sell joints in here?"

Lena's stomach flipped, and she jerked her gaze to her friend. "You're not really going to smoke marijuana, are you?"

"Don't be a prude, Lena." Stephanie rolled her eyes. "I know you took a hit on a joint in high school. And besides, we're in Amsterdam. It's practically expected of you."

"You just had to bring that up," Lena muttered, her cheeks warming. She glanced at Tyler. "I never inhaled."

"Mmm hmm." Stephanie laughed. "You wouldn't believe how defensive she gets about that."

Tyler smiled, glancing down at his menu. "Well, I'm just going to have a Hoegaarden."

"A what?" Lena asked, curious despite herself.

"It's a white beer," he explained. "It's great over here. Make sure you ask for a lemon though."

"Oh. Like a hefeweizen? That's my favorite." Easy girl, it's just a beer. She forced a casual shrug. "It's too early for beer, though. I'll just have water."

Stephanie gave her a pensive look. "No beer? What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing. I just don't want to drink some hole garden, or whatever you call it. I'm just here to grab something to eat."

As if on cue, the waitress appeared and took their orders. After she left, Tyler turned back to the women. "So, what brings you two to Amsterdam? Business or pleasure?"

"Hopefully pleasure." Stephanie's voice turned husky. "I've been searching for a way to unwind for the last couple months. And I think I may have found it."

"Oh, Jesus," Lena mumbled under her breath. Stephanie sure didn't waste any time. She'd baited the hook and was trolling the waters.

"And you?" Tyler turned to her. "Pleasure as well?"

"What?" Lena gave him a sharp glance. "I'll have you know I'm en—"

"Lena." Stephanie interrupted her, stopping her before Lena could declare her engagement.

Lena scowled, remembering their deal that they were just two single women on this trip.

"I'm enjoying myself on this vacation. Nothing but hotels, tourist traps and lots of pictures. In fact, Steph, remind me to pick up one of those snow globes, will you?"

The other two stared at her, their expressions twisted to show their puzzlement. Could I sound like more of an idiot?

Before turning back to Tyler, Stephanie nodded as though she were beginning to understand what was going on in Lena's head.

"And why are you here? You look too well dressed to be backpacking."

"I did the backpacking scene in college. I'm just here for a few days on business."

"Well, that's too bad." Stephanie pouted. "Although, what a place to mix business with pleasure."

Overkill, Steph. Overkill. Lena's jaw clenched as she slid out of the booth. "I'll be back in a few."

 

Tyler watched Lena scurry away, noting her perfect backside. Well, well. Maybe Amsterdam did have its perks.

He'd begun to regret his decision to take the assignment here. He was bored out of his mind, and it had only been two days. Most of the work had been completed in the first day, and he hated doing the tourist thing by himself. He still had until Tuesday before he was due to fly back to New York.

Maybe, if he could convince her, Lena could help pass some of the time by. She intrigued him. He wanted to spend more time with her. Get her to come out of her shell a bit. Lord knew what he'd find underneath that protective demeanor, but he knew it would be worthwhile to find out.

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